Attention all MB, AFOL, AFFOL, Teens, and Kids everywhere. LegoPalooza is back. The Urbana Free Library will be hosting their annual Lego building contest this Saturday, January 27th.
So what’s a “MB”, or “AFOL”, you ask? Well, I had to break out my Lego lingo, which means I just Googled Lego terms. Ha!
For those of you not versed in the art of Lego speech, here are a few terms to help:
- MB = Master Builders in The LEGO Movie Universe, the Master Builders are a group of elite builders and creators that made the Lego Universe.
- AFOL = Adult-Fan-of-Lego Adults that love Legos — simple.
- AFFOL = Adult-Female-Fan-of-Lego Ah Duh!! Girls love Legos too, we have great taste in everything, Clothes, Shoes, Toys, Games, Boys…Well…getting back to the article.
I spoke with Lynn Harmon, Adult and Youth Services Librarian, at the Urbana Free Library about this event and what Lego lovers can expect.
Smile Politely: How many years has LegoPalooza been at the UFL?
Lynn Harmon: This will be our fourth Lego contest at the Urbana Free Library.
SP: Whose idea was this? And why?
Harmon: Former Children’s Services Director Lora Fegley and I started this in 2015. Libraries all over the country have been hosting Lego contests for years. Last year Lauren Chambers, Adult and Youth Services Librarian, and I carried on with it. Why? Because everyone loves Lego and it is fun to share our Lego creations with other people.
SP: Legos are just for kids, right? So this is a children’s event?
Harmon: Actually, Lego is for everyone…from the easiest Duplo set for ages 1 ½ to 3 to the huge sets that say they are for ages 4–99. Many of our parents love it, it reminds them of the time when they enjoyed building with Legos.
SP: How is this event important to the community?
Harmon: This event brings families together to build and enjoy the Lego® universe, and participants together to show others their great Lego® creations.
SP: But I’m not a “master builder”, can I participate for fun?
Harmon: Our age categories let everyone join in the fun. If you are 5 or under, you enter the category with children your own age. 6-10 year olds compete against each other, and older children and teens can share their possibly more sophisticated creations as well.
SP: Is everything truly awesome when you’re part of a team? (song from The Lego Movie)
Harmon: Of course! That’s what we feel like here at the Urbana Free Library.
SP: Will this be an ongoing event at the library? What can the community expect going forward with this event?
Harmon: We will probably continue this in the years to come… or have even more scathingly brilliant activities for our library community.
SP: Anything more you’d like to add? Anything you want the readers to know?
Harmon: We hope to see everyone at LegoPalooza this year. Even if you don’t have a Lego project to enter, please come to cheer on this year’s participants.
All you Lego lovers come out to the Urbana Free Library on January 27th, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., for a family fun event. See all the amazing creations, and support community events.